Page 346 - Zoo Animal Learning and Training

318 13 Last but in Fact Most Importantly … Health and Safety

VetBooks.ir to zoo staff. As zoo animal training continues also be familiar with the training system and
the particular training goal to know where
to grow, best practices emerge to produce
better and safer outcomes. In Section 13.6
zoo professional safety backup must be well‐
there are a series of practical training safety and when the potential risks are greatest. The
tips that should be considered. versed and practiced in emergency proce-
dures if the zoo professional were to come
under attack. They should carry any required
13.5.4 Legislation safety equipment, such as defensive chemical
Animal training is becoming popular and as pepper spray, radio communications equip-
discussed in this chapter, has strict safety ment, etc. and be well‐trained in their use. If
protocols and standard operating procedures additional training staff are in attendance at a
that are created and adhered to for obvious session, they must clearly communicate as to
reasons. However, legislation that covers the which person will take on the zoo profes-
specifics of animal training across the world sional safety backup role.
is sparse. Table 13.1 outlines specific legisla-
tion and/or accreditation guidelines that dis- 13.6.2 Respect the Potential
cuss the use of training in zoos. of Every Animal

Positive reinforcement training can create
13.6 Practical Safety Tips strong, positive relationships between zoo
professionals and animals (Ward and Melfi
2013). Whilst these relationships can facilitate
13.6.1 Safety Backup
and improve animal welfare, they can also lead
When training dangerous animals including to a dangerous level of complacency in zoo
large carnivores, marine mammals, great professionals. It must be stressed that regard-
apes, and pachyderms (see Defra 2012 for a less of whether your human–animal relation-
list of UK classified dangerous animals), hav- ship has been long and positive, the potential
ing dedicated safety personnel can greatly for zoo professional‐directed aggression
reduce the chance for accidents. As discussed always exists (Hosey and Melfi 2015). Age,
earlier in this chapter, zoo professionals are painful injuries, declining health, and count-
often required to focus their attention on a less environmental factors can cause a sudden
very small aspect of the animal and the work- and unexpected change in an animal’s atti-
ing space. This narrow state of perception can tude. The sometimes challenging nature of
leave the zoo professional temporarily training itself can trigger a reflexive aggressive
exposed to harm. The role of the zoo profes- response from an otherwise mild‐mannered
sional safety backup is to provide for the zoo animal. Zoo professionals must continually
professional’s well‐being throughout the ses- remind themselves to think about the poten-
sion by watching the behaviour of the whole tial of the species first instead of the individual
animal, the training environment, and the you have grown to love and trust. Even the
zoo professional’s own actions. This should smallest and cutest of species can inflict harm
be their only role in the training session so on a zoo professional that can jeopardise their
that they can remain vigilant. The zoo profes- health and training programmes in general.
sional safety backup must have adequate
experience with both the animal being trained 13.6.3 Safe Delivery
and the training system in general. The zoo of Reinforcement
professional safety backup must be aware of
the species‐specific and often subtle behav- Positive reinforcement training relies heavily
ioural precursors that may indicate that an on the use of food as a consequence of desired
animal is frustrated which could lead to zoo behaviour. Getting that food to the animal in
professional‐directed aggression. They must a timely fashion is important but can be a